Community Blogger Angelique: Review #1 The Pole Gym Maroochydore

I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a tad nervous when I found out pole dancing would be my first Sunshine Coast Health and Fitness assignment. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE dancing and I love to get in touch with that sexy side of myself, but to be honest that’s generally after a champagne or two and these days it’s more often than not within the confines of my own four walls. Nonetheless, I braced myself and my abdominal muscles (assuring myself that the application of my tried and tested yoga cue to ‘draw the belly button towards the spine’ would prevent me from sliding straight down the pole like a firefighter on their way to an emergency).

I arrived to class early and took a seat in the car park out the front of the studio with a handful of pole dancing regulars, who were all really warm and welcoming. This relaxed me a little and I started to reassure myself that everything was going to be just fine. ‘I’m a yoga teacher, I not going to have a problem with this whole pole dancing gig’, I mentally repeated to myself. Caught up in my new found positive self-talk, I failed to notice the teacher as she pulled into the driveway where I was sitting and the next minute I found myself clumsily gathering up all of my belongings and tripping over the regular pole dancers to find a safer place to wait. The positive mental mantra immediately switched to ‘this is a bad omen… this is NOT a bad omen… this is a bad omen… this is NOT a bad omen’.

With the studio doors open, the dancers quickly began to file inside and this gave Jo Harding (our teacher) the opportunity to introduce herself to me. Pole Dancing for 10 years, she said that the sport/dance had changed her life is many ways like gaining self-confidence, friendships, fitness but most importantly it was FUN! We had a chat about my exercise history and I filled in some paperwork, with that done I tentatively edged my way into the studio. (A purpose built warehouse with about twenty poles, wall-to-wall mirrors and a cranking sound system). As I observed the other girls getting ready for class by cleaning their poles (with methylated spirits to get a better grip as it turned out) and starting their warm up routines, it dawned on me that I had clearly missed the memo on the necessity to wear extra short bike pants to class. I was sure my trusty pair of ¾ length leopard print yoga pants could never let me down, but turns out they could because you can’t grip to the pole properly unless you have skin to pole contact (cue the firefighter drill and unintentional sliding off the pole). Lesson learned.

The class began with Jo reassuring myself and the other newbie that we would be absolutely fine and to just give it a go. She informed us we would be doing a Rollin Routine by Limp Biscuit, that some of the other girls had been practicing earlier in the 6-week term that was fast coming to a close. Jo CRANKED up the music and we started the class with a warm up that saw us kicking our legs, circling our hips and getting up close and personal with our poles. While the other girls effortlessly circled around the tall, metal bars, I felt anything but graceful as I tried my best to copy the movements without bumping straight into the pole that seemed to be strategically placed in my way.

Never a quitter and always up for a good laugh, I persevered and found that as Jo began to break the routine down into bite sized chunks, it allowed me to practice more slowly without the music and little by little I began to pick up some of the moves. Gradually, I became more comfortable with my pole and actually started to enjoy rhythmically moving my body around its centre. Slowly we learnt more and more of the routine, alternating between the learning phase and the dancing phase (in which we played the music and seemed to dance MUCH faster than rehearsals).

Sadly, its a little dark up in here... But it gives you an idea :)

All in all the whole class was actually an ABSOLUTE blast! The nerves melted away with every passing moment and although there was some moves (like sliding down the pole funnily enough) that would probably take a few sessions to get the hang of, I had moments where I REALLY felt like I was embracing that sexy side of myself, dancing around the pole and getting lost in the music. Like anything it would take a couple of classes to get the hang of it, but as all the regulars kept saying me, it doesn’t take long. I highly recommend giving it a try and maybe even signing up for a 6 week course which allows you to practice at both scheduled classes as well as other times if you would like to. I will definitely be back, so pull out those bike shorts, don’t worry about how your thighs look and I might even catch you there!

Angelique

Keen to give it a try?

Website: http://sunshinecoast.thepolegym.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Pole-Gym-Sunshine-Coast-217756484920077/

Amso Fit and Healthy (Danica): Why ‘Clean-Eating’ Should be Considered a Swear Word

What is "clean-eating"? To this day, there is still no clear definition of what clean eating is. General consensus however suggests that clean-eating is following a diet that contains no or only minimally processed foods with no harmful chemicals. Sounds good? If the focus of the term "clean-eating" was just on eating healthy, then yes, it would be perfect and everyone could stick with it. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. What the term does however, is instil a sense of fear surrounding food and what’s being eaten. It develops a mentality of restrictive eating in its’ followers, delivering false hope by overlooking the inevitable "slip-ups" and lacking the ability to be sustained long-term. As a result, people develop a poor relationship with food, one that can see clean-eaters becoming consumed by eating clean, becoming "too healthy".

You’re sitting there, reading this, wondering how eating "too healthy" could be a problem, right? Sounds a little too strange to be true I’m sure. What has happened though is that with the rise of such trends as the clean eating movement, so too has the increased recognition of a condition known as "orthorexia".

The term literally translates to a "fixation on righteous eating". What starts off as a seemingly harm-free attempt at healthy eating quickly turns to an unhealthy fixation on the purity, quality and quantity of foods eaten and how to deal with inevitable ‘slip-ups’. This truly dedicated style of eating is difficult to persevere with, becoming incredibly restrictive in regards to the variety of foods eaten and calories consumed, too restrictive in a lot of instances. Ironically, the health of someone with orthorexia suffers, considering they were completely dedicated to healthy eating.

While this is an extreme example of what can, and does, happen when clean-eating goes wrong, it does further highlight that this dieting mentality is unrealistic, unsustainable and in some cases unhealthy.

So what’s AmSo Fit & Healthy’s answer to healthy eating? Following a more holistic approach, one that encompasses all things that lead to a healthy relationship with food.
ä Don’t fear food
Food is not something to be afraid of. It’s what we need to fuel our body to do all of the amazing things it does. Food anxiety and restrictive eating is not good for the body or the mind. Fad diets try to suck you in and make you scared to eat, check out our previous blog post "" for tips on how to avoid these scams.
ä Simple meal-prep
Do you find that you’re reaching for chocolate bar, cakes or biscuits when you’re hungry because you don’t have the time to make or sit down to eat something healthy? Meal-prep is a wonderful thing, not to just be used by gym junkies and body builders but something that us mere mortals can take up. Compile your favourite and some new recipes to try for the week, write yourself a grocery list, allowing yourself a treat, and get prepping. It may just mean that you chop up your vegies and have them ready to be used throughout the week, or you cook up some meals and put them in the freezer, ready to grab on the go. Whatever you can do to make your life a little easier and entice you to grab something healthier for lunch or the 3pm snack.
ä Maintain a healthy balance of food
Aim for your 5 serves of vegetables (1 serve = 1 cup of salad or ½ cup cooked) and 2 serves of fruit (1 serve = 1 medium piece). Enjoy these in a wide variety of colour – the more colour the better. Don’t be afraid of carbs – go for wholegrain options that fill you up and fuel your body for longer. Eat lean meats, the size of your palm. Have oily fish 2-3 times per week – salmon, mackerel or sardines. Try a meat-free night by swapping the steak for lentils – delicious in a curry. Go for reduced-fat dairy – stick with milk in your coffee, not butter. And have a piece of cake. Don’t punish yourself for having a "naughty" treat, but keep in mind that it is a treat – enjoy every mouthful.
ä Create a healthy eating environment
This doesn’t mean throwing out all of the treats in the house. It means to make your eating experiences positive ones by control the environment around you, incorporating ideas from mindful eating, as discussed below. Switch off the T.V, let some fresh air in and eat with friends or loved ones. Take time between mouthfuls to catch up, talk about you day, chat about the foods you are eating and the flavours of each dish. When cooking dinner, pay attention to all of the ingredients your putting in. Smell the herbs and spices, taste the veggies before you put them into the dish and see if you can find those flavours when you’re eating the finished dish.
ä Practice a bit of mindful eating
I know it may sound a little "wanky" but there is some pretty strong evidence that suggests that paying attention to the food that goes into your mouth has positive impacts on your physical and mental health. Mindfully eating requires you to focus on the colours, smells, textures, flavours, temperatures and sounds of the foods you eat, developing a true appreciation for the experience of eating food both inside and outside of the body. The opposite, "mindless eating", is shown to have connections with overeating, stress and increased anxiety according to growing research. You can practice a little mindful eating/drinking each day with your first cup of tea or coffee. Take time during your first 4 sips to really understand the flavours, the smells, the warmth and effects of caffeine. By being more aware you will come to understand and recognise physical hunger and fullness cues which will help you decide when you really need to begin and finish eating. For more information, check out: https://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/docman/fact-sheets/234-fact-sheet-mindful-eating

Enjoy your food and enjoy the company of others and you will develop a happy and healthy relationship with your food. If you find that you’re struggling with your relationship with food, reach out for help. While orthorexia is not yet considered an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa or bulimia, it is still a health concern and one that needs to be addressed. If you would like to learn more about mindful eating or how to develop a healthy food relationship, I’m here to help, just send me a message or give me a call and we’ll have you and your food becoming best friends!
- Danica

AmSo Fit & Healthy
facebook.com/amsofitandhealthy
Instagram @amsofitandhealthy
www.amsofitandhealthy.com.au
ben@amsofitandhealthy.com.au | 0405 268 619
danica@amsofitandhealthy.com.au | 0458 001 848

GUEST BLOGGER: Rob Wallace

Let me introduce myself... My name is Rob Wallace and I love to run! I'm 26years of age and spend a lot of my time outside of work trail running through the Sunshine Coast hinterland around Mapleton and Glasshouse. I am relatively new to the Sunshine Coast, growing up in the suburbs of Brisbane. I decided to call the Sunshine Coast home in the beginning months of 2015, and have never looked back.
The words ‘a lot can happen in 12 months’ couldn't be any more true. I began my fitness journey around September 2013 weighing in at 110kg.
Quickly finding a passion for running and healthy living I found myself changing, my attitude became positive and my days filled with more purpose and my image became more acceptable to my own self.
It started off as a selfish movement wanting to be happier and well....just wanting change.
You can read my full story here:
http://www.mizuno.com.au/running/blog/rob-wallace-from-overweight-unhappy-to-the-blackall-100-ultra-marathon/

Since relocating Maroochydore has become my running paradise! The early mornings watching the sunrise over the water. The many others training on Alex Headland hill, the runners and walkers scattered throughout the coastline. The vibe of this place has sucked me right in!
Loving the coast has become such an easy thing to do, you get the full package here. Weekdays are filled with routine training runs along the water, strength and conditioning gym 2 to 3 times a week followed by a full weekend of just being outside. The beaches are beautiful and the mountains around are a privilege to climb, the water around has plenty of places to explore on the kayak and I'm still on the hunt for that perfect fishing spot ;)
Inspiration doesn't fall short on the coast, I have been lucky enough to be involved in some great community running groups in Maroochydore and Nambour. The people at these clubs have become my Coast family seeing many rise from struggling to run 1km to signing up for a half marathon 5months down the track.
We all get together each week to help one another to achieve our next best. We would love everyone to come along and give it a shot! Monday nights 6pm Jetts Nambour or come down to Rebel Sports Maroochydore Wednesday 6pm and meet some pretty inspiring people. Also it's free :D

Facebook: Robskee Wallace
Instagram: @robskeewally

Jamie Milne Training: Why Run A Marathon?

Why run a marathon? I mean why even run full stop? Isn't it for mature adults? Over 60's? Or People desperately trying to lose weight and tailor in their birthday suits?

The catalyst for me, besides the actual awesomeness of simply traveling under your own steam, is something commonly attempted, which I like to do uncommonly well.

Running is a very powerful fusion of an aerobic and anaerobic antidepressant, created purely by donning your favourite fluro rubber-clad runners. Scurrying, striding or running swiftly wherever the moment may take you.

It’s like regularly going on a far out exploratory adventure; new horizons, new adventures experiences and emotions. You will often find numerous perspectives　and historically certain individuals may allegedly take alcohol or drugs for this self-centered journey, now a days you can just run.

Running brings challenges of various difficulties and degrees, this stands to be a large draw card for many and the cornerstone of my personal intrigue.

The peculiar thing about running, or journey running as I like to call it, is that longer distances and cumulative mileage creates an ever changing and ever evolving amazing journey.

It almost ALWAYS happens. In your own body, and within your very own mind.

Could there really be anything else more breath-taking and life changing?

You get to embark on a voyage to places where many others have never ever been, in which people fantasize about it but will never know how.

The cost? Nothing! A little discomfort, matched with a little of your time, in beautiful exchange for physiological unease and a potent injection of spiritual ecstasy.

Training for Ultra Marathons, or even just running with no purpose at all, reminds me the good days and the good times are always coming.

Natures natural anti-anxiety and antidepressant pill, prescribed in sweat and time.

Follow the link to check out our next adventure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbEQxHM7ovM


Jamie
Jamie Milne Training
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiemilnetraining/
Instagram: JamieMilneTraining
Website: www.jamiemilnetraining.com
Email: jamiemilnetrainng@gmail.com


JMT RUNNING MODULE SPECIAL FOR SCHF READERS:
Your choice of 5km, 10km, Half Marathon, Marathon, 60km, 100km, 100 Mile, and The Journey Runners Program 250km + Affordable elimination of all the trial and error of event preparation.
We have cleverly eliminated the "Junk Miles" i.e. all the unnecessary volumes of running, with a periodised biased module favoring quality over quantity, decreasing the chances of injury and overuse.
For every Running module purchased @ $30.00 we will gift the added value of '12 Weeks to an Ultra Marathon' EBOOK authored by Jamie Milne.　
Contact JMT and mention this deal

Community Blogger Angelique: A Fresh Approach

Fresh Holistic Health Centre is the newest member of the Kunura Health and Wellbeing precinct at Forest Glen. The practice offers innovative health solutions through a holistic approach to integrative medicine and the centre is complete with a gorgeous studio that offers DAILY yoga, Pilates, Wellbeing Workshops and much more!

The first thing that you notice when you walk through the doors at the award winning eco-friendly practice, are the warm and helpful staff who provide clients with an exceptionally high standard of professional service and advice. This, coupled with the amazing ambience that is created through the impeccable interior design, makes for a very impressive experience from the very beginning.

When you arrive to see one of the highly qualified practitioners, you will be invited to relax in the waiting area until your appointment begins. Far from clinical, the space makes you feel more like you’re unwinding in a peaceful day spa than passing time in an impersonal Dr’s surgery. From integrative GP’s and Nurse, to Naturopathy, Psychology, Physiotherapy and much more, the centre truly does offer a holistic approach to innovative health solutions for everyone.

If it’s a class that’s on your mind, then there are plenty to choose from. From HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), to Pilates, to Qigong to Yoga and Meditation, the purpose built studio is arguably the best on the Sunshine Coast.

Each teacher brings their own unique approach and intention to class, so sometimes it can be a good idea to try a couple of sessions to see which one suits your personal fitness needs and goals. If vinyassa flow yoga is your thing and you don’t mind practicing to AMAZING soundtracks, then I might be your girl. I am at the centre on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9am, so come on in and experience TheYogaSessions, I’d love to meet you!

Angelique looking sharp in her new JaycasFit Activewear!

With the Kunara Organic Marketplace and Café located across the car park, why not make a morning of it? Treat yourself to a post workout coffee or juice and stock up on those organic essentials that you’ve been meaning to check out!
Angelique!

Paul's Body Engineering: The Growth of Online Coaching

The latest trend sweeping the globe in the Health and fitness Industry is the mass growth of online fitness coaching.

Often you will see advertisements across social media for online coaching packages and transformation challenges. But what do you really get without face to face contact?

Well having made myself available as an online coach, I can attest there is a great amount of benefit too it.

If you are time poor, work away, don't have a gym membership or don't want one, are just some of the markets that can be attracted to this style of coaching.

It is also generally cheaper than face to face and the good online coaches will be available online at the drop of a hat to answer your questions or provide feedback on your progress.

Obviously to this upside there is a downside with many taking advantage of this movement in coaching and offering substandard advice and training.

As a coach and recognised PT, my advice would be to do your research.

Check their website, social media platforms and reviews. Ensure they are insured and registered and are who they say they are.

Another way is to view their results. If it is weight loss you are after, ask to see previous clients results. If it is bodybuilding or size you are chasing, request photos of previous clients. The greatest marketing tool an online coach has is photos.

A good online coach will have before and after photos of all their clients (with their permission of course) to be used down the track to prove their worth.

Bad advice, in person or not, can have long lasting negative effects to your health and fitness so choosing the right trainer or coach is an important decision.

There is a lot out there now, and its not just locally based. you can source well renowned coaches from all over the world.

In my opinion, face to face is a much more rewarding and satisfying experience and will get you your results sooner, however if you do fall into one of the categories listed above then online coaching and still being accountable to someone may in fact do you the world of good.

Final tips when seeking out an online coach.

1. Check their website

2. Check there social media pages and reviews

3. Ensure they are insured and registered

4. Source result photos

They can promise everything under the sun but when its time to deliver, fall well short of these promises so be confident in the decision you make.

Email: paul@paulsbodyengineering.com

Phone: 0466 587 6430466 587 643

Facebook: www.facebook.com/paulsbodyengineering

Website: www.paulsbodyengineering.com

Instagram: @paulsbodyengineering

Accelerate Health and Performance: Why You Should (Probably) Throw Out Your Scales

Scales: A device used to measure a person's weight.

Weight: The amount of gravity acting upon a body at any one time.
Gravity: The force that attracts a body towards the centre of the earth.

Right...now that we've cleared that up what the hell does it all mean!?

As a society we have a bit of a pre-occupation with putting on and losing weight. What that means far more literally is that we're obsessed with increasing and more often than not reducing the amount of gravity that acts upon our body at any one time.

WHY? Are you spending too much time within the Earth's atmosphere?

The truest definition of what we think we are talking about is our MASS...The amount of matter within an object...but even then that's kind of vague and potentially as irrelevant as the Kardashian's should be.

A persons weight or their mass is really only relevant in a health or fitness context when it comes to sporting performance and in sports with weight categories or when an anaesthetist is figuring out the dosage required to knock you out. Weight and Mass are not necessarily indicators of health or fitness at all.

WHAT!? What did he say? HOW DARE HE!? Who does this bloke think he is? THEY USE SCALES ON THE BIGGEST LOSER!!!

Well...I'm the bloke that is trying to change the way the world thinks one person at a time and I'm starting with YOU!

While a larger weight or mass can be linked to poor health until we have a lot more information let's call a spade a two handed digging tool with a wooden handle and broad, flat, metal scoop and say what your weight/mass really is...it is nothing more than a number! The number on your scales doesn't explain what's really going on inside. Blood pressure, resting heart rate, cardio-vascular capacity, musculo-skeletal integrity, cholesterol levels, body composition, veinous return...hell the colour of your skin can give away more than a number on a set of scales more half the time.

Sceptical? Consider this...

If you weigh 65kg here on Earth with no negative health indicators through any other method of testing and then went into space what would the number on the scales say? Answer: ZERO. What changes would being in space make to your other health indicators? ZERO.

So what does this mean? That we're healthier in space because we weigh less? Let's see...

If you weighed 165kg and have high blood pressure, poor veinous return, clogged arteries and worse cholesterol than Elvis and were then sent to space how much would you weigh then? That's right...ZERO. And what change would there be in your blood pressure, veinous return, clogged arteries and cholesterol? Answer: ZERO. You'd still be a walking heart attack.

Still want more convincing? Ladies...if you were healthy under all key indicators, looked like Miranda Kerr (or whoever you're super jealous of) and the number on the scales said 7 Billion kg's would you care? No...you'd still be a babe! Boys...your turn...if you were healthy under all key indicators, looked like Ryan Reynolds (or whoever you have a man crush on but are too ashamed to admit it...but let's be honest, it's Ryan Reynold's) and weighed 9 Billion kg's...or on the other end of the scale 12kg's what would it matter? ZILCH.

#mancrusherrrrryday

Think body composition! Think bone density! Think lean muscle mass! Think reduced subcutaneous fat (fat directly beneath the skin)! Think cardio-vascular capacity! Think energy levels! Think how well you sleep! Think a low level of cholesterol and balance of LDL's and HDL's! And finally think of putting the scales where they belong...

Mitch, Accelerate Health and Performance

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acceleratehealthandperformance/

Instagram: @mitchellknightpt